How To Keep Your Jewelry Sparkling And Clean

There's nothing more chic and elegant than adding a good accessory to your look. And one of the best accessories you can add to any outfit is shiny and sparkling jewelry. No matter how much you spend on jewelry, this is a must-have fashion addition to have on hand. While everyone loves the look of shiny jewelry, it can be challenging to keep that sparkle gleaming. Dirt and rust can tarnish and even end up ruining sentimental jewelry. 

When you are spending money on meaningful or important pieces of jewelry, it can be discouraging to see those pieces start tarnishing. After all, Brides reports that the average cost of an engagement ring was $3,756 in 2020. With that much money being spent on jewelry, it's worth keeping your pieces clean and shiny at all times.

Keeping your jewelry clean doesn't need to be a hassle; just by following a few simple steps, you can have jewelry that looks brand new. Having your jewelry look brand new can also save you from having to spend money on buying new jewelry to replace the old, worn pieces. Overall, having shiny jewelry is an easy and cost-effective task.

Cleaning your jewelry is an easy task. Jewelry brand Simone Walsh recommends simply using warm water and colorless soap as your tools of choice for keeping your jewelry sparkling clean. Using a cloth or a small brush, simply wipe away any dirt or grime that might be hiding in hard-to-reach areas in your jewelry pieces. Rinse off any areas you've washed with warm water and quickly dry off your pieces until there is no water residue. Before storing away your jewelry, ensure your pieces are completely dry as any remaining water will only quicken the tarnishing process.

Rogers & Hollands Jewelers suggests taking further steps if you are handling sterling silver jewelry. To clean silver jewelry, simply soak your pieces into a mixture consisting of a 1/2 cup of white vinegar and 2 tablespoons of baking soda for 2 to 3 hours. After you remove the pieces from the bowl, rinse them off with cold water and dry them off completely. For diamonds, the process only requires warm water and liquid soap. The soaking only needs to be for 30 minutes before you dry it off.

Keeping your jewelry clean consists of much more than washing your pieces when they get dirty. There are multiple steps you can take to extend the life of your pieces between washes and prevent damage. Mountz Jewelers recommends keeping jewelry far away from any chemicals and items that can ruin them. This means putting your jewelry on last, after all of your lotions and perfumes. The chemicals found in these items can quickly tarnish and affect the metals your jewelry is made out of. Keeping your jewelry dry from these chemicals will ensure they do not get dirty or tarnished quickly.

The Jewelry Magazine also suggests removing your jewelry before gardening, general housework, and swimming. It can help to rotate your jewelry pieces to prevent them from becoming overused. You also need to store them in a dry and safe place where they will not get wet or tarnished with other items. Avoid touching your jewelry as much as possible with your hands as the oils will also contribute to tarnishing your jewelry. It's especially important to avoid abrasive ingredients, such as bleach or acetone, when wearing your jewelry. Remember to follow these simple steps and you'll maintain sparkly clean jewelry for much longer.